Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-15
Interesting Questions 10 be Submitted
to the Controller.

| The appropriation for work on suburban sewers
under the terms Of the appropriation act is imme-
| diately available. Col Ludlow says that work
Will be prosecuted at once on 14th street out
| towards Mount Pleasant and also in Anacostia.
The Commissioners Will also advertise as soon as
possible for the work of surface Improvements on
the streets OF the city, though the money will
not be available until July LIST. Some questions Of
interest have arisen in this connection, which the
| commissioners nave submitted TO Controller Dur
ham. The first OF these is as to whether the ap-
preparations now available for suburban work can
be used In extending existing contracts so as TO
prevent the delay incident to re-advertising and
making new contracts. The letter then goes on to
| set out the other two questions as follows:
street Improvements according to the schedule is
| not made Immediately available, but it is ex-
July LIST be awaited or otherwise a serious loss Of
time is involved. Does fair construction of the
law authorize the Commissioners to advertise for
and make contracts now the work to be done by the
contractor either PRIOR subsequent to July 1st
| the delivery of his work and its acceptance to be
after that date, and no payments to be made until
| the new fiscal year shall have opened.
Third In the appropriation act above referred
to the appropriation Tor street Improvements is:
For improvement OF streets and avenues named
In the schedule OF work city streets and avenues
proposed for the fiscal year 1885, contained in the
annual report or the commissioners of the District
OF Columbia for the year ended June 30 1856,
pages 146 and 147, being part 6, House executive
document NO. l, Forty-ninth Congress- second ses-
sion, as 1oLOwS: IN Georgetown, $45, 600; in the
northwest section. including the pavement of New
Jersey avenue, from street to Boundary street
northwest, $4,000; In the southwest section,
$4,000; in the southeast section $4,000; in the
northeast section, $50 600 and for filling streets
below grade at not exceeding ten cents per cubic
yard, $4,000; In all, $3.50, 600; provided, that
under appropriations contained in this act no con-
tract shall be made for making or repairing con-
crete or asphalt pavement at a higher price than
per square yard for quality equal TO the best
laid In the District prior to July 1, 1885, and with
same depth of base
Upon comparing the amounts appropriated in
the above paragraph of the act for the several Sec
tons OF the city with the schedule referred to it
Will be observed that in three cases-vz.: SOUTH
west, southeast and nOrtheaSt-the amounts ac-
mates for those sections The question therefore
arises as TO the proper manner In which these
augmented amounts may be expended in order
tnaI the 1uu advantage thereof, manifestly in
apparently two methods Of accomplishing this
OBJECT. 1t Is obvious that no other than the
streets named in the schedule can be improved.
me schedule designates the limits within
and also indicates the amount to be expended
upon these several portions, in some cases
providing Tor the paving OF the street. in others for
us grading and regulation. In order to expend
either to extend the limits over which the i'm
proFement OF q named street is to be accom-
p1Sned or TO change the character of the improve
menu oy providing for the paving of the street,
=, &c IL snali nave been regulated. The question,
IL Is believed, Is an entirely new one inasnuch as
inc appropriation act for the first time allOtS Spe-
CHIC amounts to the several sections, thereby
making II 1Inpracticable to utilize unused bal
anceS Tor any other section.
The Commissioners are DESTROYS in the interest
OF the District to make all lawful provision to the
Hmit OF the appropriation, for needed improve
menus, and trust that such liberal construction
may De gwen 10 the law as will enable them to
tiOn."